Skip to contentBible Study On Samson
Do you want to learn about the story of Samson in the Bible? I’ve always loved this story, but never took the time to study it. We are going to explore Samsons characteristics and talk about his weakness, how he was distracted, but also how he returned to God.
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here.
Story Of Samson Summary
Samson's story begins in the book of Judges chapter 13
That chapter begins by stating that the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines who oppressed them for 40 years.
Samsons parents were unable to have children. An angel appeared to Samson’s mother and told her that although she has been unable to have children, she will become pregnant soon and have a son.
The angel told her not to drink any alcohol or eat any forbidden food. He also told her that his hair must never be cut, because he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite, and he will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.
When her son was born, she named him Samson, the Lord blessed him as he grew and the Spirit of the Lord was stirring inside of him.
One day Samson was in Timnah and he saw a Philistine woman and she caught his eye, he wanted to marry her. Remember, the philistines are the same ones that are oppressing his people. Samson returned home and told his parents and I quote “a young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.
His parents objected and asked him, if he couldn’t find a woman in their tribe or an Israelite woman to marry. He objected and said get her for me. This story is quite long so I am going to try to shorten it.
On his way back to Timnah to visit the woman he wanted to marry, a young lion attacked him, at that moment the Spirit of the Lord came over him and he ripped the lions’ jaws apart with his bare hands.
Samson threw a party as it was customary, and the bride’s parents gave him 30 young men as his companion…Samson told a riddle at the party and told them if they can solve it, he would give them thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.
3 days later they were still trying to figure out the riddle. The men threatened Samson’s wife and told her to entice Samson to get the answer from him or they would burn down her father’s house. So, she did…and she nagged him until the 7th day, he couldn’t take it any longer, so he gave her the answer and she told the men.
The Spirit of the Lord came on Samson, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 men and gave their clothing to the men that solved the riddle. Then he returned home to live with his parents because of his wife’s betrayal.
Later, he went back to see his wife, but her father informed him that he gave her to his best man to marry as he figured that Samson was furious with her.
Wow this story is filled with so much drama.
So needless to say, Samson took revenge on the Philistines.
Samson And Delilah Bible Story
One day Samson went to Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. Samson was obviously off track, he seemed to be very intrigued by the Philistines although he took revenge on them, and they were the ones oppressing the Israelites.
From here begins the story of Delilah who he fell in love with. I think that we all know that story.She was told by the rulers of the Philistines to entice Samson to tell her what his strength was, and they will each pay her 1100 pieces of silver.
Samson lies to Delilah over and over but her continuous nagging wore him down. Sound familiar? Samson obviously didn’t learn from the incident that happened with his wife, he didn’t learn from his previous mistakes. Delilah was motivated by greed, and she used her persistence to wear him down.
Samson was really blinded by Delilah, he obviously knew something wasn’t right, 4 times she took advantage of him.
So finally, he gave in and told her.
Judges 16:17-21
Samson Bible Verse
17 Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.”
18 Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands.
19 Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him.
20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!”
When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.
21 So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison.
22 But before long, his hair began to grow back.
During their festival they brought him out so that they could make fun of him, he asked the servant that was leading him to put his hands against the pillars.
29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
31 Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.
What Was Samson’s Purpose?
I know based on the story of Samson it may seem that he didn’t really accomplish what God had planned and that he really went off the rails. But he did accomplish the promise that the Angel made to his mother, Samson’s hair was his strength and he began to free Israel from the Philistines oppression. Could he have done more? Sure, he could have but he was distracted.
Samson’s Weakness
God has a plan for each of our lives, and we sometimes get distracted by life. It could be distractions from family, work, school, a boyfriend, or girlfriend. There are many reasons that we may not accomplish the full plan that God has for our lives.
We can use Samson’s example and choose not to waste time and completely immerse ourselves in the plan that God has for our lives. What is God’s plan for your life? Perhaps you don’t know, but through prayer, fasting and seeking God, the holy spirit will reveal God’s plan for you. When He does don’t let anyone or anything stop you!
Lessons From Samson
I think there are 2 powerful lessons that we can learn from the life of Samson.
1 - God’s presence will not take over our will.
Let me explain, it was evident that Samson had the presence of God with him, in the story. It mentions numerous times that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.
But you can see that Samson still engaged in many ungodly acts. God doesn’t want to control us; he gave us free will and he wants us to make a choice to do what he has told us to do, he doesn’t force us. Bottom line it’s our decision.
2 – God can still use you despite your mistakes if you return to him.
At the end Samson realized that he needed God. His story shows us that it’s never too late to start over again no matter how badly you may have messed up. Come to God and repent he will forgive you and give you a fresh start. I heard this quote many times and I’m sure you have as well.
“it’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.”
I pray that this story of Samson, a leader in the Bible, has helped you to see that you can always return to God. Come to Jesus decide to walk in the plan that He has for your life.
Has this been helpful for you, can you see the role that Samson played and how we need to stay focused on the plan that God has for our lives?
What has God called you to do? Are you dedicated and doing it with your whole heart?
Prayer For Salvation
Jesus come into my heart. I turn my back on sin and I repent, and I trust in you. I confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. I accept by faith the free gift of salvation in Jesus’ name Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, then you are saved, congratulations and welcome to the family of God. I will give you the advice that my pastor gave to us…pray, you need to pray which is talking to God, that is how you build your relationship with Him.
He loves you and cares about everything that concerns you. Read your Bible every day, find a Bible-believing church and attend, and last tell someone that you are saved.
Ephesians 1:17-19
I pray that the Lord would give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
How To Reconnect With God
Steps To Spiritual Growth
